Pls Help - LTVP for Step Child

[guruvee]

Hi Everyone,

I am hoping someone who may be familiar with protocol or has been in the same situation can provide some assistance and confirm if what I have been informed by the MOM is correct.

Situation: I have just relocated to Singapore on a P1 employment pass. I am in a long term, common law relationship with my partner of 6 years and she has a 7 year old child who I am essentially the step father of (she has never seen or had anything to do with her biological father).

The problem: The LTVP for my partner has been approved but not for her daughter which was rejected. The LTVP application form stated that for step children to get approved we would have to provide either a court order showing the custody of the child, or alternatively a letter of no objection from both biological parents. The biological father of my partner's child provided a letter of no objection which we had hoped would be sufficient.

Information Provided by MOM: What I was informed by the MOM was that there is no type of pass suitable for my partner's daughter. I would have to get legally married to my partner, get my partner a DP and then we can apply for the LTVP for our daughter. MOM informed me that it does not matter where I get married or for how long we are married. I'm sure you can appreciate that marriage is a big step and I do not want to go down the path of marriage and submitting new applications if the end outcome is still going to risk the disappointment of not successfully securing a pass for our child. Please help!

Thanking you in advance!

[Saint]

The Gahmen have only recently started to accept, under duress, common law relationships by granting LTVP, by also adding a step child in to the equation is asking for trouble The MOM are only following the letter of the law in what they are telling you. You've got to remember that this is Singapore and if it doesn't follow the rules you are going to have a problem.

Marriage would solve all your problems but.......

[Saint]

Have you looked in to getting your step daughter a Student Pass? Not sure if this would be a better route to go?

[guruvee]

No I haven't looked at a Student pass.. is that something which is reasonably straight forward to get? We were hoping to send her to a local school.

[Saint]

No I haven't looked at a Student pass.. is that something which is reasonably straight forward to get? We were hoping to send her to a local school.

I'm not too up on applying for a Student Pass but take a look at the link below for starters

http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre_o ... pageid=256

[Mad Scientist]

What MOM said to you is true and it is across all platform be in FT or local. As a step father you will need to have custodial rights of your step child. Marriage and a court order from the biological parent of the child is a must.
I do not think student pass will be much success via your route.
Yes marriage is a big step but if you have ibeen in relationship for 6 years, it does speak for itself, don't you think so ?

[Saint]

I do not think student pass will be much success via your route.

Why you say that MS as what I can't see on the ICA website that would say not possible?

[Saint]

Come to think of it, it is definitely possible as a good friend of mine step son is on a Student Pass as he wasn't entitled to a DP

[Mad Scientist]

http://www.singaporeedu.gov.sg/htm/stu/stu0306.htm

http://www.singaporeedu.gov.sg/htm/mis/faq01.htm

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... apore.aspx

http://www.enotes.com/topic/Study_mama

The child is only 7 years old which will put the child in Primary 1. According to the guideline is between Pri 2 upwards if he wants to place the child in local school. Of course International School will be breeze , I was reading thru his intention to send the child to local school . Apart from taking the QET and finding a local school placement
The was one forumer had this issue too but till now he cannot bring his step son into SG. Moreover he is a local but an ex-con. The child was about this age too.

Not sure but maybe study mama route is another way

[Saint]

Have to agree getting a local school place is going to be virtually impossible so was referring more to international which shouldn't be a problem

[guruvee]

Thanks for your help guys. So if I am reading correctly the two, possibly 3 options are as follows

1. LTVP but then I must get married to my partner. Agree it probably makes sense considering we've been together all these years; I suppose I was just hoping we would not have to get married under these circumstances.

2. Student pass, but getting this through a local shool will be either extremely difficult if not close to impossible. Through an International School however it would be a possibility. My problem is I don't think I'll be able to afford the high costs of International Schooling. e.g. Australian International School (we're Aussies) costs about $24,000 pa

There is also the option I suppose of seeing if my partner were able to find employment here and get her own Employment pass. This was something we were considering but wanted to first settle in Singapore for a few months before pursuing futher.

[Mad Scientist]

Thanks for your help guys. So if I am reading correctly the two, possibly 3 options are as follows

1. LTVP but then I must get married to my partner. Agree it probably makes sense considering we've been together all these years; I suppose I was just hoping we would not have to get married under these circumstances.

2. Student pass, but getting this through a local shool will be either extremely difficult if not close to impossible. Through an International School however it would be a possibility. My problem is I don't think I'll be able to afford the high costs of International Schooling. e.g. Australian International School (we're Aussies) costs about $24,000 pa

There is also the option I suppose of seeing if my partner were able to find employment here and get her own Employment pass. This was something we were considering but wanted to first settle in Singapore for a few months before pursuing futher.

Spot on mate !!
Yes she has to find employment herself then one get DP for her child. Then again getting job here is getting tougher hence the cycle begins

[neraknerak]

Hello, I also have a question about step children and education.

I am American, married w/ 2 step children. I do not have custody of my step children. My husband is Indonesian (ASEAN country) and has joint custody w/ his ex-wife of the 2 children. They are 7 and 11. I hope to get a P1 or P2 employment pass and my husband to get a Dependant pass. They do not speak much English but can understand Malay. If I want my step children to study in Singapore,

-what pass for my step children to live/study in Singapore? Long Term Visitor's Pass - isn't this just for 6 months? or a Student Pass? another type of pass? what is the difference between LTVP and Student Pass?
-is it really difficult/impossible to get them enrolled in a local government school? so then it must be a private/international school?

Thank you.

[beppi]

English is the medium of instruction in all schools, both government or private.
Your step children might have some problem with this, hopefully only initially.